The mess starts right at your front door. It comes in the form of leaves, rain, snow, salt, asphalt crack filler, and the list goes on. How do you protect your floors from the year-round elements? Here are some tips.

Designate a walk-off space. Minimizing the potential for slip-fall accidents can be as simple as providing a walk-off zone. You can cover your tile floor with an entry mat… but they’re a trip hazard. By incorporating walk-off areas into the design of your entrances, you can choose a durable flooring material that can withstand water and debris, and reduce accidents. Entrances from employee parking lots and frequently used side exits should be considered as well.

Use walk-off carpet tiles to bring in form and function. There are a wide variety of carpet tiles specifically designed for walk-off use. This is one of the most affordable ways of protecting your floors. They’ll collect the dirt and moisture before it gets onto your floors, which can save you lots of money and headaches down the line. Clean them on a regular basis and plan to replace them every 2 to 3 years.

Establish a maintenance program. Going beyond the walk-off, have an established floor maintenance program. Routine vacuuming, shampooing, and sweeping of your floors (whatever the type may be) is one of the easiest ways to keep your floors looking great and lasting longer. Low moisture is best as too much water can do more damage than good.

Simple steps like these can help protect your floors and keep them looking neat and tidy no matter the season.